Turkish Derby

Lore & Background

The 2025–26 season began with significant upheaval as head coach Martí Cifuentes departed on June 24, 2025, ending his tenure after a two-month gardening leave. Julien Stéphan was appointed the very next day, tasked with stabilizing a squad that would face immediate scrutiny. The new manager's early days were marked by defensive vulnerabilities, most starkly illustrated on August 23 when QPR suffered their heaviest defeat of the season, losing 7–1 away at Coventry City. Despite this rocky start, the side gradually found cohesion under Stéphan, with new signing Richard Kone becoming a focal point in attack. By October, the team had climbed into the top half of the table, fueled by contributions from midfield recruit Isaac Hayden and wingers Paul Smyth and Kōki Saitō, though home form remained inconsistent throughout the autumn months.

In Their Own Story

The narrative arc of the season turned on specific turning points that defined QPR's trajectory. After a mixed start featuring a 1–1 draw with Preston North End and a 2–1 loss to Watford, the team showed resilience in August with a 3–1 away win at Charlton Athletic, where Kone scored twice. The festive period offered hope with a gritty Boxing Day victory over Sheffield Wednesday, but consistency remained elusive until February. That month marked a strong spell of five unbeaten league games, including a 3–1 home win against Norwich City and a 1–0 victory at Sunderland, propelling the club to 12th place. The season's peak arrived on March 21 with an emphatic 6–1 thrashing of Portsmouth, where both Rumarn Burrell and Kone reached double figures in league goals. However, fatigue set in during April, culminating in a frustrating 2–2 draw against Hull City before the campaign concluded with a 1–1 away draw at Blackburn Rovers on May 3.

Reader's Guide

For followers of the 2025–26 season, understanding QPR's performance requires tracking their fluctuating form under Julien Stéphan. The squad entered the EFL Cup in the first round but were eliminated by Plymouth Argyle with a 3–2 loss on August 12. In the FA Cup, they entered at the third round against West Ham United, though specific results for that tie are not detailed in the summary beyond their entry status. Key statistical milestones include Burrell scoring three goals in January and both he and Kone reaching double-digit goal tallies by March. The final table position of 15th with 58 points reflects a season of progress tempered by costly errors against playoff contenders. Notable new arrivals like centre-back Ronnie Edwards, signed from Peterborough in January, provided defensive reinforcement during the winter transfer window.

Did You Know?

• The 2025–26 season marked Queens Park Rangers' 144th year in the club's history.
• Julien Stéphan was announced as head coach just one day after Martí Cifuentes left by mutual consent on June 24, 2025.
• Queens Park Rangers suffered their heaviest defeat of the season on August 23, losing 7–1 away to Coventry City.
• Rumarn Burrell and Richard Kone both reached double figures in league goals by March 2026.
• The final game of the season was a 1–1 draw at Blackburn Rovers on May 3, 2026, confirming their 15th-place finish.